Sacramento, Yosemite, Tetons, Yellowstone, MT, WY, & CO with the Stocks

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Dean & Linda Stock said:
However, it is all gravel and not pretty.

Very true but I have a tip for anyone who might consider staying there in the future. 

The part of the park which is located on blacktop is not at all level and I won't attempt staying there with a very large rig.  The gravel lot does have fairly large pull through sites... but they are on gravel and water can pool up during heavy rain.

But... there is a single row of back in sites located on a large concrete strip which backs up to a lawn and tree section.  Same price, you just have to ask for one of those sites.  We spent a month in one of those in the fall and it worked out great.

Rick
 
Sorry it's been so long since the last posting--Internet problems, but we have it tonight for 1 night so I'll get as much done as possible, between washloads, making dinner, etc.
 
May 13, 2011 Day 9 Sacramento

I looked forward to the small Sacramento Zoo.  It was packed with people, and the only parking is in the street, but we got lucky and parked pretty close.  They have lots of shade trees by the walkways, as well as misters located outside the walkway, so it would be a nice place to visit even on a hot day.  Several types of beautiful ducks floated in a pond as we entered (Picture 1).

I enjoy all sorts of wildlife and plants, and they had 4 animals that I hadn?t seen before.  The Lady Ross?s Turaco is a bird with a bright yellow face, a burgundy fuzzy crest, and brilliant red underwings.  Seeing them fly was such a flash of color.  They are endangered. 

We also got to see the Great Hornbill up close.  The female goes into a hole in a tree and cements it with mud, feces, and wood, leaving only a little slit for the male to feed her while she lays and sits on the 2 to 4 eggs.  The male is even busier when the chicks hatch, making 70 trips a day to feed mom and the young.  We saw an endangered eagle we?d never seen before.

The giant anteater was snoozing, but every now and then he would raise his quill-like hair that is shaped like a fan and fan himself off.  He eats over 30,000 (Yes, 4 zeroes!) insects each day.

My one and only negative is that the habitats for all the animals are way too cramped.  Fewer exhibits with more spacious quarters would make it possible for the animals to get necessary exercise.  In some cases, like on the birds? cages, they could go taller if they didn?t feel that they had the ground space.  They had a little wildlife show, and only about 3 dozen people came.  My favorite was the prickly-haired pygmy hedgehog.  (Picture 2)  Isn?t he a cutie?  If you realize when you go that this is a small hometown-type zoo, you will have a great time.

Dean had done the zoo-thing with me, and he wanted to see the movie, ?Tron?, so off to the theatre we went yet again.  He thought it was good; I didn?t.

When we got out of the movies it was only 4:30, a perfect time to observe animals, so we headed to the Evie Yeaw Nature Center.  I knew it was going to be good when I saw 3 deer as we entered the parking lot.  It?s right next to the Sacramento River, and there are lots of acres and lots of trees with dirt paths.  We could hear a rhapsody from the birds, and  frogs croacked the alto parts.  There must have been 100 in the pond from the sound of it, but they quieted as we neared, so we didn?t see any.  I saw a bald eagle flying overhead.  We saw a great egret and a cormorant flying over the Sacramento River, but what we most enjoyed was the deer.  They didn?t seem to mind our presence even a little bit. (Picture 3)
 

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May 14, 2011 Day 10 Sacramento

What good fortune we had today!  It was a special ?Hands On? day at Sutter?s Fort Historical Park & Indian Museum, and this only happens once a month.  People were making cinnamon buns and bread, and children were learning how to make rope out of twine.  There were lots of people dressed as if they were from the 1850?s answering questions.  Admission was $6.

As we entered, a man dressed in period clothing was calling everyone together for the firing of the great cannon, an exact replica of the one  actually used by Sutter, who was a very interesting guy.  He left his wife with 5 small children, the oldest of whom was 7, in Switzerland while he tried to become prosperous.  His wife was an aristocrat whose family was well-established, but Sutter, who was born in Germany, was not one of the ?village people? so his dry goods and drapery shop failed.

He went to Missouri, Kansas, Fort Vancouver, Honolulu, and Sitka, Alaska.  He had with him 8 workers from Hawaii, and Mexico ordered him to put in at Monterey.  He sailed up the Sacramento River and established some grass huts, which eventually grew into a true walled adobe fort with a distillery, fascinating weaving shop, kitchen, blacksmith shop, trade store, candle shop, jail, cooper?s shop, and quarters.

He was really generous, especially with new settlers and visitors valued books, and was a polished gentleman.  He was definitely the man in charge, and he punished people with whippings and jailing.  He issued passports to the American immigrants who were first his guests, later his customers.  He sent to his family about 15 years later, and they came, but after a year his wife divorced him.

Sutter became a Mexican citizen to qualify for his 47,827 acres of land (11 leagues).  By 1845, Sutter was thriving.  He had 1700 horses and mules, 4000 cattle, and 2000 sheep.  He flew the Mexican flag over the fort, but got along well with the Americans as more arrived.  In 1846, there was a revolt, and a new flag, a lone star, was raised briefly over Sutter?s Fort.  Soon after, the American flag was raised.  Sutter provided free shelter and supplies to weary settlers because he was trying to recruit settlers for his settlement.  He sent out a group fo them to help the Donner Party, who rescued 47 survivors.  Unfortunately, 42 members died.

When gold was discovered by his sawmill, about 50 miles from the fort (now the town of Coloma), Sutter tried to keep it a secret.  But people flocked in.  Squatters took over much of his land, they stole his livestock, and he began to pile up debts, and he had to sell the fort for a pittance at the end of 1949.
 

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May 15, 2011 Day 11 Sacramento

We had planned to drive to Tahoe today, but I-80 required snow tires or chains, and I-50 is closed for 2 weeks for guardrail and bridge re-construction.  The detour for I-50, US 88 & 89 is closed because of 10 feet of snow from winter that has not been plowed.  Wouldn?t you think they would make sure the detour worked before they shut down the main artery to Tahoe? 

Pea-sized hail and hard rain pounded on our RV?s roof on and off, sending our cat inside the dashboard.  Despite our best efforts to get him out, he wouldn?t budge.  So we did housekeeping chores, and all the clothes, etc. will be ready for our next adventure.  We couldn?t help but watch the highway conditions about every hour.  We are hoping to leave tomorrow.
 
May 16, 2011 Day 12 Stateline, NV

What a beautiful drive on I-80.  All the trees were covered by snow, but there was lots of snow falling off the trees because it is warmer today.  It was truly a Winter Wonderland.  I have to admit that I did breathe a sigh of relief when we pulled into Harrah?s back lot and knew that we had made it!

We are staying inside the hotel.  RV parking (but not boondocking) is available at the back.

Weather:  High of 37?F, little snow flurries
 
[quote author=SteveRocket].... by the way we are sorta neighbors as I live in Cypress too .... by the way we are sorta neighbors as I live in Cypress too[/quote]

We know; You said it repeatedly  ;D
 
SteveRocket said:
by the way we are sorta neighbors as I live in Cypress too very enjoyable read, 

I'm glad you enjoyed it.  Nobody ever knows where Cypress is, let alone lives there--amazing what a small world it is!  And, as for writing your comment twice, Tom can tell you that I've done far worse--and bigger.  He has cleaned up my messes more than once.

Linda
 
Dean & Linda Stock said:
I'm glad you enjoyed it.  Nobody ever knows where Cypress is, let alone lives there--amazing what a small world it is! 

I know where Cypress is!!  I worked there for  almost  18 years in the elementary schools.  I lived in  Brea and Cerritos.  I also knew Linda and her kids in my working career.  I love her journals! 
Betty
 
May 17,  2011 Day 13 Stateline, NV

We honeymooned here in Tahoe 43 years ago, and after our children graduated from high school, we returned each Spring Break.  We know the area well, and we have a ritual of always taking a day to drive around the lake.  We decided that today was the day to go because we didn?t know what the weather would be tomorrow.  There was snow in the air that melted as it hit the ground.  Most of the trees that were infected by bark beetle have been logged and left to decompose, so the vast swaths of dead trees was gone.  Unfortunately, many of the shops are vacant, also.  Bill?s Casino (next door to Harrah?s) is closed, and it has been there for decades.  The Horizon is next to bankruptcy, and it is barely limping along.

We stopped in Tahoe City at Chinese Cuisine, a small family-owned business.  The owner is very proud of the beautiful salt-water fish, his ?babies?.  We each got  one of the 20 lunch specials, and we thought they were good, as well as well-priced (under $20 for two of us, and we didn?t get the cheapest special.

At the north shore the snow increased.  There was about 3? of snow on the roofs, and the trees had lots of snow accumulating, and this is MID-MAY!!  We got  a few pictures, but we couldn?t pull off where it was the worst.

We are supposed to get 4? of snow here tonight, and the North Shore is supposed to get really hammered.

We are staying inside the warm, cozy hotel.  RV parking (but not boondocking) is available at the back.

Weather:  High of 39?F, bigger snow flurries
 

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May 18,  2011 Day 14 Stateline, NV

We were disappointed in Harrah?s Buffet last night.  The food was not labeled as ?spicy?, but everything was overly spicy.  The fish has chili flakes in it, the top sirloin strips were really tender but way too spicy (maybe Tabasco sauce??), and the cornbread had hot jalapenos in it.  The Amgen Bicycle Circuit Race was supposed to have been held, but they cancelled because of all the snow.  The town is empty, so the buffet is only open for 3.5 hours a day.  But, the good part is there are no crowds anywhere!

I love to play craps, but $10 craps, which is usually what it costs,  is too rich for me.  They lowered it to $5 to get more customers, so I got to play?would you believe until 4 a.m.?  And? I won $460!  I had pleasant dreams and got up late, so we headed to another favorite, Chevy?s, for a brunch.  We like Mexican food that is moderately spiced, not fiery, and Chevy?s does it right.  I enjoyed their lunch special of  tortilla soup and a Mexican salad.  I think the arthritis in both shoulders was aggravated by several hours of throwing dice, and they are really sore.  But it was so worth it! 

We went down to stock up at some of our favorite shops at the ?Y? (intersection of US 50), where we?ve always enjoyed shopping.  I had several items I was looking forward to purchasing.  We shouldn?t have been surprised, I guess, but the mall is only about 40% occupied. Three of my favorite shops are gone.  Last night I talked with the ?girl? serving drinks.  She just got laid off this year after 16 years as a special education teacher working with the hard of hearing.  She had to re-write her students? Individual Educational Plans and said that they no longer provided the programs.  I was shocked!  She said that many of the students are Hispanic, and their parents don?t usually sue.  They have combined their elementary, junior high, and secondary schools into a K-6 elementary and a 7-12 high school because so many people have left.

Tahoe is so pretty, but it is really economically depressed.

We are staying inside the hotel.  RV parking (but not boondocking) is available at the back.

Weather:  High of 43?F,  windy, with the sun peeking out from behind the clouds
 
May 19, 2011 Day 15 Reno, NV

The sun was out this morning!  As we stowed our gear, ready to go, another problem happened.  Dean was just coming into the coach when the RV?s step made a sound, and it won?t go in and out properly.  As he drove, I researched possible repair facilities in Reno on my I-Phone.  Golly, what a great resource that is!  The first place said it would be 10 DAYS before they could look at it.  The next place said 2 WEEKS!!  I was afraid to call the third one?each had been longer than the one before, and Paramount RV Repair had a big ad.  They told us to come on in, and they?d look at it right away and assess it.  They are SO NICE!  They immediately ordered the part we need, and it will come in on Saturday.  They only work Monday through Friday.  They didn?t want to hold us up, so they passed off the repair to a mobile repairman.  And they ran a big electric cord and are providing us with electricity.  I voted to stay in Harrah?s Hotel (I have a coupon for 3 free nights) with the hot shower I can run as long as I want without worrying about filling up the grey water and using up the water and the big bed.  Dean was tempted, but decided to keep the cat company in the RV.  We ate at Harrah?s Buffet, which was $4 cheaper ($15) and 10 times better than Tahoe?much bigger selection, fresh, cooked to order, high quality.  I won?t play craps here, as they have a $10 minimum.  Their internet is also very expensive.

Dean is boondocking at Paramount RV Repair, and I am enjoying a free room at Harrah?s

High is in the 60?s; it?s windy, but nice.
 
May 20, 2011 Day 15 Reno, NV

This morning we took care of business and then headed to Carson City to see Nevada?s capitol.  I had done the phone survey at Chevy?s and they gave me $5 off on my next  meal.  Using my I-phone, I discovered there was a Chevy?s on the way to the capitol.  Bad news!  We got to the right address, but the building was vacant. Good news!  There was an Applebee?s across the street, and they have great weekday lunch specials. We had a lovely meal.

The GPS took us through beautiful countryside on the way to the State capitol.  Dean forgot the camera, so there aren?t any pictures today.  Nevada has the most brilliant yellow bushes and trees called scotchbrush.  I liked them so much that I was thinking about planting one at home, and I researched them on my I-phone.  Oops!  In California they are labeled an ?invasive species?, so I guess I?ll just have to enjoy them in Nevada.

We have passed by the historic Capitol about  30 times in the last 40 years, and we never were impressed enough to stop.  So, we went into our visit with low expectations.  We were so wrong!  We visited both the historic working capitol (built in 1871) and the new working capitol.  Both capitols have bright silver domes because Nevada is the Silver State.  All the buildings in Carson City, even the new capitol, must be at least 1 foot shorter than the historic capitol, which only has 4 floors, so they have no high-rises.  Nevada is the largest producer of gold in the United States and is 4th in the world behind Australia, China, and South Africa.  They also produce many other minerals.

Each area of Nevada is very proud.  They put letters on their mountains, like in LA they put up the HOLLYWOOD sign.  The mountain with an E is in Elko County, R is Reno, and C is Carson City.  They also have interesting county flags that are on display in the capitol and flown over county buildings.  Nevadans are independent people, and they even formed their own political party, the Silver Democrats, which endured for 5 years.  They wanted to have a silver standard for our money instead of a gold standard.  There was an interesting border around all the walls by the ceiling about 2? wide which showed all the minerals they mine (lots of different ones!), crops they grow, ranch scenes, sheep, and their state seal.  There was a gorgeous quilt of the state seal with tens of thousands of beads.

They are trying to restore the assembly chambers, which is currently a museum with exhibits, like an assemblyman?s desk.  I couldn?t find a place to leave my check, so I stopped at the Capitol Police, who didn?t know, then the State Treasurer?s office.  The office manager tried her best to figure out how to accept it, but it has to have a tracking number, coding, etc.  Anyway, there?s a sign soliciting donations, but no way to make one.  Government efficiency??

We strolled through the pretty grounds between the two capitols.  There is an iron fence around the capitol.  It was erected to keep livestock out.  The committee who awarded the contract to H. Clapp was displeased when they found out the H stood for Hannah.  They thought it would be a man.  The bidders were 2 teachers, and they built a good fence.

By this time it was 4:00 on a Friday afternoon.  We walked over to the new capitol, expecting it to be very quiet, but it was abuzz with activity.  There were lots of lobbyists, and many of the assemblymen and senators were still there working because the session ends around June 8. We saw a committee listening to speakers, and everyone was working hard. The assembly and senate only meet for 120 days every 2 years. 

As we were strolling the halls looking at all the art work and one amazing wooden sailing ship in a glass case, we happened upon the lieutenant governor?s office.  He came out and started chatting with us.  His name is Brian Krolicki.  He says California has a 25% shortfall in our budget, but Nevada has a 40% shortfall.  He and the governor are both Republicans and believe in  being fiscally responsible, but cutting 40% out of a budget is a daunting task.  I liked him a lot.  He spent about 10 minutes with us, and we can?t even vote for him.  He is promoting tourism, Nevada?s biggest industry, because he is the Chairman of the Commission on Tourism.

In the informational booklet you get when you come in, it talks a little bit about Fly Geyser.  Has anyone been there, or does anyone know anything about it?  It sounds fascinating.

Dean is boondocking at Paramount RV Repair, and I am enjoying a free room at Harrah?s.

Pretty day with the high in the low 70's.
 
May 21, 2011 Day 15 Reno, NV

Woe is us and our repairman!  We waited and waited for our part, and the repairman finally was able to find out that our part will not be delivered until Monday morning at 9 AM.  So we have to wait 2 more days, and the repairman didn?t get to do the job.  While we were waiting, we discussed our need to wash and how nice it would be to go into an RV park, so we made reservations for tomorrow.

I picked up an interesting brochure in the capitol, and I wanted to go to the Stewart Indian School, which opened in 1890 and taught Indian children until 1980.  It was a boarding school and has an audio tour with ex-students and ex-teachers providing narrative.  This was not Dean?s favorite place to go, but he went along with me. 

We hadn?t had breakfast, and from the highway we spotted a Famous Dave?s Barbecue, one of our top 3 favorite barbecue places.  We had wonderful brisket and chopped pork in a smaller lunch portion. 

When we arrived at the Indian School, we weren?t sure we were at the right place.  The first thing we saw was an active church made of stone.  Then I realized that the whole campus was a series of really pretty stone buildings, and I think all of it was the Indian School.  However. the informational kiosk that was supposed to have brochures with numbers so you could hear stories wasn?t there.  Dean was ready to leave, but I really wanted to see this.  We found where they provide drivers? training for new police officers, a police sub-station that was closed, and the homeless shelter where I inquired of the young lady smoking a cigarette in front.  Inside.the headquarters for education of Carson City Fire, I found a fireman who gave me great directions, but the informational booklets to be able to do the audio tour just weren?t there.  I kept my brochure, and I will talk with them on Monday.

After all this, I owed Dean big time..  So when we passed the Galaxy Theatre at the Fandango Casino, which was showing ?Pirates of the Caribbean? in 3D, it was payback time.  We both really enjoyed the movie.  We packed up, and tonight we are both boondocking at Paramount RV Repair.

A nice day, low 70?s.
 
May 22, 2011 Day 15 Reno, NV

We went to Costco, Walmart, the gas station, and did laundry in preparation for 3 days of  traveling.  We got all our postings done!

Stayed at Rivers Edge RV Park because it is close to the repair facility.  FHU, 50 amps ($5 extra), WiFi, right next to the Truckee with kayakers, birds, walking trail, $42.90.

Pretty day, low 70?s.
 
Linda,

We've seen quite a few really neat pictures of Fly Geyser, but unfortunately it's on private land and not really accessible.  If you Google Fly Geyser you can see some pictures and a Wikipedia writeup on it.

ArdraF
 
May 23, 2011 Day 16 Elko, NV

We got up early to get back to the repair facility before 9:00, when our stair gear and motor were supposed to arrive.  After 10:00 we spotted the UPS truck.  GOOD NEWS!  It had our parts.  BAD NEWS!  We had to wait about 2 hours for the mechanic to finish up another rig.  So, it was after 1:00 when we got underway, with $554 less in our pockets.  Ouch!  Parts were almost $300.  An hour of labor was $250.  But, they did give us a  1-year guarantee.  I don?t know if that?s expensive for what was done, but they are a premier family-operated repair facility with the FMCA seal of approval that has been in business for well over 30 years.  They put us ahead of their routine work because we were on a vacation, and they gave us free electricity the whole time we were there.

Timing is important because we were only able to get 3 days in Yellowstone when we booked it.  They told me to call back right before we arrived because there will be some cancellations, and I just have to be lucky enough to get the call in at the right time.    I?ve been calling every 30-60 minutes to no avail, but I backed it up with a reservation in West Yellowstone at the Grizzly Bear, which everyone recommended highly.  Our stay at Fishing Bridge starts on the 25th, just 2 days away.  I took everyone?s advice, and I had 2 extra ?nothing to do? days planned, but  a 4 ? day delay in Reno and the 1 day delay in Tahoe was too much.  We had to cancel our 3-day Tetons reservation, but we will see them?either by driving from Fishing Bridge or maybe a little bit tomorrow.  The sun isn?t setting until 8:45, and I hope the wildlife doesn?t go to bed early.

The drive was easy.  We had some showers, but not enough to slow down, but enough to treat us two pretty rainbows and the fun of watching our cat chase the windshield wipers.  We made 280 miles.  We?ll start early tomorrow and try to get a place in the Tetons, about 35 miles from Yellowstone.

Stayed at the Walmart Supercenter in Elko.  They are very accommodating?even have a Welcome sign to RVers.
 
Welcome to Yellowstone!  RVForumites in the area include Bill Whetstone, Jim and Pat Dick at the bookstore in Old faithful visitor center, the Nesbitts in West Yellowstone at Grizzly RV park, Kim and Christi at Ennis (about an hour to the Northwest), and Jim and Pat Godward in Belgrave (about 100 miles to the North).  We could have a pretty good size mini-rally!

Mary Ann and I have to work through Friday, but are available over the long weekend.  In the meantime if you are looking for birds and large hairy animals, when laeving Fishing Bridge, turn right (North) toward Canyon Village.  Your drive will be through the Heyden Valley, always a good place for bears and aquatic birds on the Yellowstone River.  The visitor center at Canyon is a must. You'll see why!

Leaving Canyon go straight across the park to Norris (junction).  Pay attention on both side as you approach the Junction. a stream passes under the road and there maybe Buffalo, Elk, or even a moose on the banks.  Turn North toward Mammoth Hot Springs. The first good opportunity will be about a mile up the road at a pullout on the right.  Great meadow for Buffs, Elk, Sand Hill cranes, etc.  Immediately after that is a stream flowing under the road.  Mary Ann spotted a River Otter there last week.  Continue North to Mammoth. On the way keep an eye out on both sides of the road as bear sightings have been numerous.

In Mammoth turn east toward Tower junction.  Watch for bears all along the way and for moose near the turn off for the Petrified Tree and as you approach the Lamar junction.  Turn east toward Lamar Valley.  Immediately start watching for Big Horn Sheep.  They are plentiful as for the next 2 miles, especially near the picnic area on the right.

Beyond there, you'll see bears, buffalo, Pronghorns, Wolves (maybe), coyotes and a variety of birds.  Go as far up the valley, even as far as the northeast entrance -- there are intersting things to see all along the way. 

Unfortunately, you'll have to retrace your steps to Fishing Bridge unless the Dunraven Pass has been opened (not supposed to open until the 27th) -- you'll see the signs.

There's so much more, but I have to run to be at work in 5 minutes.  Yes, at 6:45......

Have a great day. 

Don
 
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